Call for tougher stance on tiger kidnappings

A KILDARE TD has called for tougher penalties for criminals who carry out tiger kidnappings in the wake of the third abduction attempt in the county within a month.

A KILDARE TD has called for tougher penalties for criminals who carry out tiger kidnappings in the wake of the third abduction attempt in the county within a month.

Sean O’Fearghail, whose sister’s family were held by armed raiders in their home on April 4, has expressed his disgust at the latest incident in Kilmeade.

“I am absolutely sickened to see this happening again in the county. We need to look at this in terms of the legislation that exists for these types of crime and we need to put stronger penalties in place to deter people from undertaking these kidnappings,” stressed the Kildare TD.

Last Wednesday morning April 27, Kilmeade residents Martin and Sharon Lambe and their two-year old son were held hostage by a ruthless gang at their home in Cluain Ard.

At approximately 5am, four armed and masked men attempted to abduct Mr Lambe, as he left for work.

He is a driver for security company, G4S Solutions. He called out and his wife Sharon, who is five months pregnant, dialled 999 and hit the panic button, which was installed in the house.

It’s understood the raiders then brought Mr Lambe back inside the home. Unaware that the alarm had been activated, they then went into the bedroom and gathered up the rest of the family.

It’s believed they then brought the couple and their son to some nearby bushes before moving them to the back of the white van that were parked outside. They struggled to handcuff Mr Lambe, before gardai arrived at the scene a short time later and the men fled on foot.

It’s believed they may have ran through to another estate and out onto the main road where a getaway car may have picked them up. The raiders left behind the van at the scene.

The Garda Technical Bureau spent several hours examining the scene and the vehicle.

The couple, who are both in their thirties, and their son were being comforted by neighbours in the aftermath of the incident on Wednesday, but were too upset to talk about their ordeal.

“I didn’t hear or see anything. This is a very quiet area.

“You would never see anything like this going on. I got up about 9.30am and looked out the window and saw the crime scene tape. I didn’t know what was after happening,” said one neighbour.

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